Journey of a Jeweler

a journey into fashion decorating style and life with jeweler lisa lehmann

Lisa Lehmann Designs, formerly StudioJewel

Uncategorized

Strange, but worth noticing

by


Okay so I have been awful at keeping up my blog! I just never want to sit myself down long enough to actually write something. So I’ll keep it short and sweet.

This is not breaking news, not informative, not emotional, possibly only funny to a handful of you. But Saturday I decided to cook the 20 lb. turkey that was in my freezer since Thanksgiving. Hey, what can I say? Someone else offered to cook the big bird back then!
Anyway, I had to run a couple “birthday errands” with my 6 year old, and I simply asked my husband to peel the potatoes for me. Easy enough. When I came home I was met with him…that “thing” in the photo above!!
We call him, Mr. Potato! Is that not the weirdest thing. My husband couldn’t even peel him, because he kept staring back at him with those beady little “eyes”  (eyes…get it?)!!
So moved by the little spud, we decided to give him his very own photo shoot….and to his dismay, he did not make it into the mash. And let me just say, I make fabulous mashed potatoes. In fact…I’ll add the recipe!
So that’s it! That was our weekend excitement! We really need to get out more 🙂
Lisa’s Fabulous Mashed Potatoes
5 lbs. potatoes, whatever kind you prefer
1 to 1-1/2 sticks of butter
5 ounces of shredded cheddar
5 (ish) ounces of sour cream
1/2 block of cream cheese
garlic salt to taste – fresh garlic crushed if you have it
1/4 cup of milk
salt & pepper to taste
– boil your potatoes until fork soft. drain. while they are draining place 1 stick of butter in the already hot pot, with milk. heat until butter starts to melt. placed drained potatoes back in the pot and add sour cream and cream cheese. mash. add cheddar cheese and garlic salt. mash! taste and see if you need more salt and add a dash of pepper. if they are too dry add a little more milk or sour cream. yum, yum, yum!
Sorry Mr. Potato, you didn’t make the cut!

Who? What? Wear? Wednesday

by

Who? 

I am a mom, a wife, and a jewelry artist!

What?
I was finishing up schooling my second grader, shipping out an adorable mother’s day tag necklace and then I arrived at Boutique Flair!!!
Wear?
Embarrassed to say it…but I’m in my running clothes. Because I am, really am going to run as soon as I get away from my desk!!! But after that, I’m sure I’ll be wearing something fabulous…fully accessorized!

A New Day….

by

So have my circumstances changed as of a new morning? No! Has my attitude? Absolutely!

I came to realize yesterday just how big my God is and how healing a cup of tea can be 🙂
As for my ramblings…did I actually believe anyone would read them and then even bother to comment? Not really. But those individuals that did were such a blessing to me. Not only did they encourage me and lift my spirits, it was a reminder of just how God really does care about my circumstances and my future.
I was forced to look at the “haves” rather than focus on the “have nots“. I HAVE a husband who loves me. I HAVE four children that are healthy and beautiful. I HAVE a home, food and clothing. I HAVE my creativity. I HAVE people in my life who care about me.
And you know what really made me smile? My dog. I know you’re thinking “not again with the dog thing”. But think of the picture of unconditional love. Selah is just there to love me. I might neglect to feed her right away when she’s hungry. I might make her wait a little too long to go out, or even step on her tail. What does she do? She comes to me wagging that same tail saying “I forgive you…just love me!”
That to me was a very visual and real reminder of who Jesus is to me and how He loves me…unconditionally!
So today my head is lifted a little higher, my smile a little brighter and my mood on the up and up. For right now, I’m sipping my coffee, snacking on fruit and granola and awaiting the arrival a friend for breakfast.
Who knew I would really need that this morning? Gee….I wonder!

Down in the dumps? I think not!

by

Today is Friday. Normally Friday’s excite me. It’s the day before a weekend, which to me means time with my kids, husbands home…movies, pizza etc. So enjoy Friday’s and I almost always feel creative on Friday’s.

But today is different. Today began with a chunk of bad news…news that is all too familiar. My husband had to deliver the news via phone which I know was not his first choice, but maybe it was better that way. Maybe that way he didn’t have to see my face, more specifically my eyes which really are a mirror to my soul.
The details are unimportant, at least for now, but what is worrying me is I had big plans for creating today. Big plans to dive into my studio and “play”. Now that drive is gone. My soul aches and my heart is heavy. So how do I “beat” the blues, overcome my circumstances?
As an artist many of us are moody anyway. Many of us struggle with the swings of high to low on a daily (if not hourly 🙂 basis…at least I do. But today is going to be different. I’m going to make choice and some conscience decisions…I get to be in charge.
The first thing I did is pray. I don’t know where your faith life is…or what you believe in. But for me…God has to be my first choice. He created the universe, so I think he can take care of me. I asked Him for peace, I asked Him for strength and I asked Him for direction. I’m not entitled to those things…but He does say when we ask, He will answer.
Secondly, I am writing this to all of you. I don’t “feel” like talking to anyone, out loud anyway…but this is my way of conversing, my way getting it out. And whether anyone reads this or not is really unimportant.
Thirdly, I’m going to have a cup of tea! I am a coffee die hard. I love it and often live for my cup of joe. The essence of the bean…that’s what I’m talking about. But in certain moments, certain circumstances tea is the answer. The English have been on to the therapy of tea for centuries, we just threw it overboard! 
So I will properly brew my cup of tea, enjoying the aroma and then sipping lightly….letting the delicate balance of flavor dance across my tounge. When I realize the simple pleasure a cup of tea can bring….a few leaves, some hot water…then I can put things in perspective again.
So I WILL create today. The fact that I can, that is MY gift and talent…and no matter my circumstances no bad news can take away that gift. And it is my responsibility to share that gift with others who DO appreciate it.
Thank you for allowing me to air my frustrations, for giving me the freedom to “vent”! I really do feel better. Now I’m going to go turn on the hot water, direct my focus to what is in my control and move on. God is good all the time and He’ll let me know what he has in mind for our “next”…but for now I need to go bang on some metal.
(here is the song of my heart today, the lyrics taken from Christian recording artist Chris Tomlin)

Great is Your faithfulness oh God
You wrestle with the sinner’s heart
You lead us by still waters and to mercy
And nothing can keep us apart

So remember Your people
Remember Your children
Remember Your promise
Oh God

Your grace is enough
Your grace is enough
Your grace is enough for me

Our best friends…

by

I admit…I’m a dog person. Well an animal person really. I can’t help myself…the unconditional love gets me everytime.

So here I am back on my blog after weeks of neglect and what am I going to post. An amazing, tear jerking editorial written from the perspective of one of our beloved pets. I picked this story up this morning on another blog and was so moved I needed to pass it along. I dare you to read it without shedding a tear.
My sweet Selah is a gift to me and my family – give your pet an extra hug today!
HOW COULD YOU?

By Jim Willis 2001

When I was a puppy, I entertained you with my antics and made you laugh. You called me your child, and despite a number of chewed shoes and a couple of murdered throw pillows, I became your best friend. Whenever I was “bad,” you’d shake your finger at me and ask “How could you?” — but then you’d relent, and roll me over for a bellyrub. My housebreaking took a little longer than expected, because you were terribly busy, but we worked on that together. I remember those nights of nuzzling you in bed and listening to your confidences and secret dreams, and I believed that life could not be any more perfect. We went for long walks and runs in the park, car rides, stops for ice cream (I only got the cone because “ice cream is bad for dogs,” you said), and I took long naps in the sun waiting for you to come home at the end of the day.

Gradually, you began spending more time at work and on your career, and more time searching for a human mate. I waited for you patiently, comforted you through heartbreaks and disappointments, never chided you about bad decisions, and romped with glee at your homecomings, and when you fell in love. She, now your wife, is not a “dog person” — still
welcomed her into our home, tried to show her affection, and obeyed her. I was happy because you were happy.

Then the human babies came along and I shared your excitement. I was fascinated by their pinkness, how they smelled, and I wanted to mother them, too. Only she and you worried that I might hurt them, and I spent most of my time banished to another room, or to a dog crate.
Oh, how I wanted to love them, but I became a “prisoner of love.”

As they began to grow, I became their friend. They clung to my fur and pulled themselves up on wobbly legs, poked fingers in my eyes, investigated my ears, and gave me kisses on my nose. I loved everything about them and their touch — because your touch was now so infrequent — and I would have defended them with my life if need be. I would sneak into their beds and listen to their worries and secret dreams, and together we waited for the sound of your car in the driveway.

There had been a time, when others asked you if you had a dog, that you produced a photo of me from your wallet and told them stories about me. These past few years, you just answered “yes” and changed the subject. I had gone from being “your dog” to “just a dog,” and you resented every expenditure on my behalf.

Now, you have a new career opportunity in another city, and you and they will be moving to an apartment that does not allow pets. You’ve made the right decision for your “family,” but there
was a time when I was your only family. I was excited about the car ride until we arrived at the animal shelter.

It smelled of dogs and cats, of fear, of hopelessness. You filled out the paperwork and said “I know you will find a good home for her.” They shrugged and gave you a pained look. They understand the realities facing a middle-aged dog, even one with “papers.” You had to pry your son’s fingers loose from my collar as he screamed “No, Daddy! Please don’t let them take my dog!”

And I worried for him, and what lessons you had just taught him about friendship and loyalty, about love and responsibility, and about respect for all life. You gave me a good-bye pat on the head, avoided my eyes, and politely refused to take my collar and leash with you. You had a deadline to meet and now I have one, too.

After you left, the two nice ladies said you probably knew about your upcoming move months ago and made no attempt to find me another good home. They shook their heads and asked “How could you?”

They are as attentive to us here in the shelter as their busy schedules allow. They feed us, of course, but I lost my appetite days ago. At first, whenever anyone passed my pen, I rushed to the front, hoping it was you that you had changed your mind — that this was all a bad dream … or I hoped it would at least be someone who cared, anyone who might save me. When I realized I could not compete with the frolicking for attention of happy puppies, oblivious to their own fate, I retreated to a far corner and waited.

I heard her footsteps as she came for me at the end of the day, and I padded along the aisle after her to a separate room. A blissfully quiet room. She placed me on the table and rubbed my ears, and told me not to worry. My heart pounded in anticipation of what was to come, but there was also a sense of relief.

The prisoner of love had run out of days. As is my nature, I was more concerned about her.
The burden which she bears weighs heavily on her, and I know that, the same way I knew your every mood. She gently placed a tourniquet around my foreleg as a tear ran down her cheek. I licked her hand in the same way I used to comfort you so many years ago. She expertly slid the
hypodermic needle into my vein. As I felt the sting and the cool liquid coursing through my body,
I lay down sleepily, looked into her kind eyes and murmured “How could you?”

Perhaps because she understood my dogspeak, she said “I’m so sorry.” She hugged me, and hurriedly explained it was her job to make sure I went to a better place, where I wouldn’t be ignored or abused or abandoned, or have to fend for myself — a place of love and light so very different from this earthly place. And with my last bit of energy, I tried to convey to her with a thump of my tail that my “How could you?” was not directed at her. It was you, My Beloved Master, I was thinking of. I will think of you and wait for you forever. May everyone in your life continue to show you so much loyalty.

The End

A note from the author:
If “How Could You?” brought tears to your eyes as you read it, as it did to mine as I wrote it, it is because it is the composite story of the millions of formerly owned pets who die each year in American and Canadian animal shelters. Anyone is welcome to distribute the essay for a noncommercial purpose, as long as it is properly attributed with the copyright notice.